NIU's Orange Bowl ticket distribution numbers released

Northern Illinois distributed 15,550 tickets from its allotment of 17,500 for the Orange Bowl, according to the NIU athletic office.

The school sold just 3,266 tickets, while 2,876 were given away to NIU students for free. The team (players, coaches and staff) and band was given 1,308 tickets, while the school donated 8,100 tickets.

NIU won't be on the hook for all the unsold tickets, as the Mid-American Conference covered the school's ticket obligation.